Pink Lady's Slipper Red fox pup 34 Healthy trees are at the forefront of the forest ecosystem. All wildlife, seen and unseen, needs and relies on healthy habitat. The health of our forests is important to the species for which they're managed. It's up to the caretaker of that land to find that balance for a healthy forest. Properly balanced deer herds benefit from the more diverse plant life. Regenerating trees, shrubs and wildflowers provide food and cover for an incredibly diverse insect population. These insects pollinate and then become food for grouse, turkeys, songbirds and many small mammals, which then become food for larger species. Each moment in the woods is an educational experience you cannot get from any classroom or website. By spending more time outside, you will start having a better understanding of your environment and what certain species prefer. Learn as much as you can and, most of all, experience what you are learning. The best gift you can give anyone or yourself is time in the woods. Golden-winged warbler White-tailed deer fawn